Performance

The EVGA Z20 keyboard supports N-key rollover USB, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys either, and as is usually the case with mechanical keyboards these days, the right Windows keys is replaced by an Fn key.

When first powered on with the software running, the EVGA Z20 keyboard lights up in an RGB spiral effect which also showcases the light bars on the sides for that extra oomph. The light effect is good to make sure all LEDs are up and running, as well as a visual indicator that the keyboard is recognized and working well.


Fn + Left/Right arrow keys toggle between preset lighting effects, and if you do not want to use EVGA Unleash, the same combination with the Up/Down arrow keys adjusts the brightness levels. But the software is the way to go for finer control, and I used it to set the keyboard from an all red to an all white you otherwise don't get. Given the external LED placement, I feared that the lighting would be harsher with no diffusion, and white would be much harder to achieve with the 256 colors for each R/G/B LED as opposed to a total of 16.8 M combinations. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see a very decent white here, one that was actually superior to many others using the more common RGB mechanical switch with SMD 5050 LEDs underneath. There is some light bleed at the common edges owing to the floating keycaps, though the brushed metal frame does help mitigate that somewhat.

Here is a look at a couple of other onboard lighting effects making good use of the hardware drivers of the EVGA Z20. I have mixed feelings about the light bars not having fully independent controls, but you can get around it somewhat by using a custom lighting effect in the software drivers.



EVGA Unleash allows for a lot of functional tweaks as well, including remapping keys to switch between the QWERTY/Dvorak/Colemak layouts for more efficient typing. Here, I used the source code from an older keyboard review in a layout tester (courtesy of Patrick Gillespie). The results above indicate how QWERTY is not even close to the most efficient layout for me, and very likely you as well. If you are willing, try out Colemak or Dvorak as they will result in lower finger travel and fatigue overall. As such, the driver offers a significant functional tool if you are willing to devote some time to adopting either Colemak or Dvorak. Here is the link to the full results if you are interested, including a detailed analysis on key presses and distances moved.


The biggest and arguably most novel feature is the TOF sensor and how it integrates with software control. Sure, you have the 4000 Hz polling rate because of that OP processor inside, but, as mentioned in my review of the CORSAIR K100 before, it is very much a your-mileage-may-vary feature. Some of my fellow keyboard editors in the media claim to have felt the difference in fast-paced games, but I still think this is a small part of the overall cog that drives keyboard input to your display, with other steps having larger delays and input lag anyway. As it is, this no doubt just increases comparisons to the CORSAIR K100 even more, but I suspect it will only be a short while before 4000 Hz polling becomes common for such keyboards in general, as with the 8000 Hz sensor on mice. That said, the TOF sensor actually works well and provides tangible benefits, including a form of privacy should you be using this keyboard at work. The working angles could have been more flexible, as you really need to approach the keyboard almost head-on for the light to detect you, measure the distance, check the distance against the settings in the software, and finally activate as set—leaving the keyboard of course works just fine, and the various options we saw in the software help further. It is definitely not a gimmick, however much it may seem to be.


Let's talk switches. When EVGA first contemplated getting into keyboards, they sought out opinions from a few in the industry, including yours truly. At that time, Cherry MX RGB switches were quite hard to get, and to an extent they still are if you are not already one of their primary partners. I had suggested going with Kailh, which is exactly what they did with the Z10. This time, and unfortunately in another point of comparison to the CORSAIR K100, EVGA went with optical-mechanical switches. Putting aside the tinfoil hat for a minute, it makes a lot of sense for the feature set with the fast polling rate, and optical switches have become quite popular recently, too. A4Tech is arguably the first company to bring mass-market optical switches to keyboards, and thus going with them seems fitting for EVGA's first foray into this segment. The Light Strike LK Linear switch used here is similarly targeted towards faster response times owing to a shorter actuation distance and total travel. Actuation force is slightly lower than the 45 gf of the contemporary Cherry MX Speed (Silver), but this switch does have a longer actuation at 1.5 mm vs. the 1.2 on the Cherry offering. The stabilizers aside, these switches are very nice to type on, and I am definitely curious about the LK Clicky switch EVGA also offers here.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the EVGA Z20 keyboard sample at ~105 WPM as it comes out of the box with the LK Linear switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. I did bottom out often given the comparatively lower travel and force spring in these switches, but it is fairly easy to avoid with some practice.